Several persons were rushed to a hospital in Kochi on Thursday night following ammonia gas leakage from an area close to the Fertilizer and Chemical Travancore plant near Kochi.

The leak was not from any tanker lorry, sources said adding, FACT officials had informed them the trucks were not filled with the gas since Union Chemicals and Fertilizers Minister Ram Vilas Paswan visited the unit on Thursday.

Residents of Irumbanam area near Tripunithura, where the plant is located, were shifted to a relief camp.

Fire department sources said the gas was suspected to have leaked from the ammonia plant.

Panic spread in the area at around 8.30 pm when there was a smell of ammonia gas and locals complained of itching in the eyes and uneasiness.

They were shifted to a relief camp set up at Tripunithura Government High School and the situation was being monitored.